Six Feet Under

I believe people underestimate just home much power can be contained within a television show - specifically "Six Feet Under."  Every year or so I pull out my box set and have a full marathon.  Contained within the writing and the characters are so many of the emotions, flaws, strengths and struggles contained within all of us.  Sure, most of us have not grown up in a funeral home or had to deal with most of the specific situations contained in the show.  But we all have had to struggle with loss, mixed emotions, sadness, disappointment and many of the complicated situations that arise anytime you are dealing with family and life.  We all have flaws, we all have strengths, and we don't always do the right thing.  We all have entanglements and unhealthy relationships.  Some of us have Nate's capacity for empathy, but we also have his tendency to choose unhealthy behaviors to ease the pain.  Some of us have David's drive to succeed, but within that drive we also have built our own personal prisons of perfection.  Some of us have Ruth's incredible capacity to love and nurture, but we may also have a tendency to wrap our lives inside those closest to us instead of exerting our independence and establishing our own.  Watching "Six Feet Under" you experience a range of emotions, just like life.  Laughing at the funny, laughing at the absurd, tears at the heart wrenching pain, tears at the spirit lifting joy.  Disappointment when things fall flat, disappointment when you realize what you thought wanted was exactly the opposite of what you needed.  At times we are wounded, and we must do our best to patch ourselves back together.  At times we are wounded and we need those around us to help us heal.  At times we need art in the form of a TV show, and we should not underestimate it's ability to teach, inspire and knock us loose.